Improvement in harvesters



Sheet's-Sheetl. A. HART, Ir.

HARVESTER. No.175,453. Patented March 28,1876.

4*";- ull" """Hhu v W IJV VEJVTOR WITNESSES II By his flttorneyN.FETERS. FHUTO-LITHQGRAPHER. WASHINGTON. D, C.

4 Sheets'-Sheet 2.

A. HART, Jr.

HARVESTER. No.175,4;53, Patented March 28,1876.

I By 701's flttorney WW MSQAMW UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

ALFRED HART, JR., OF ROCKFORD, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-HALF HIS RIGHTTO EMERSON &'OO., OF SAME PLACE.

IMPROVEMENT IN HARV-ESTERS.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 175,453, dated March28, 1876; application filed January 18, 1876.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, ALFRED HART, Jr., ofRockford, in the county of Winnebago and State of Illinois, haveinvented certain new and useful Improvements in Binding Attachments forHarvesters, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to improvements in grain-binding attachments forharvesting-machines of that class in which the cut grain is carried byan elevating apparatus to a receptacle from which it is taken to bebound. Its objects are to gather the grain as it comes from the elevatorand compress it into bundles, which are conveyed to the binder, whorides upon the machine; the bound bundles, at the proper time, beingautomatically discharged.

The subject-matter claimed is hereinafter specifically designated.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure l is a front view of so much of aharvesting-machine embodying my improvements as is necessary toillustrate the subject-matter claimed herein; Fig 2, a plan or top viewthereof; Fig. 3, a vertical section therethrough, on the linea'w of Fig.1; Fig. 4, an enlarged sectional view on the line y y of Fig. 1; Fig. 5,a sectional view on the line 2 z of Fig. 2; Fig. 6, a bottom-plan viewof a portion of the mechanism; Fig. 7, a top-plan view of same; Fig. 8,a sectional view on the line w w of Fig. 1.

The operative parts of my binding attachment are mounted on the frame Aof a harvester. As the machine progresses the cut grain falls upon anendless apron or carrier, not shown in the drawings, but of well-knownconstruction, which conveys it laterally to an elevator, B, preferablycomposed of transverse slats, carried by endless belts passing aroundthe usual pulleys, which carry the grain upward under a slatted grating,terminating in a suitable deflector, and delivers it revolving clasps bywhich the grain is com pressed and conveyed to the binder, the claspsbeing opened and closed at proper intervals, as will be explained.

From the upper end of the elevator-frame, on either side, projectbrackets D D, the outer ends of which support a revolving compressor,which consists of a rod or shaft, E, provided with a series of teeth orarms, 0, bent or curved into nearly a half-circle shape, which hang overthe open clasps that receive the bundle of grain from the receiver andrevolve at particular times so as to press all loose straw or grain downinto the clasps just before they close for conveying the grain to thebinder.

The receiver is vibrated and the compressor revolved intermittently bymeans of a cam or eccentric, F, (see Fig. 8,) located on the end of ashaft, G,'which has its bearings in cross pieces of the frame, motionbeing communicated to this shaft by a chain, 9, passing from asprocket-wheel, 9 on the axle of the main driving-wheel, over alikesprocketwheel, 9 keyed thereon. This cam or eccentric F works betweenthe forked arms of a bent lever, l, which has its fulcrum at the point ion the frame, the cam in its revolutions raising or depressing the endof this lever, the upward and downward motions of which, through themedium of a connecting-rod, I, raise and lower a longitudinally-slottedrack-bar, J, supported and guided upon the shaft E. This rack-bar J, inits upward and downward movement, acts upon a clutch-pinion, J, looselymounted upon shaft E of the compressor, (clearly shown in Fig. 4,) whichclutch-pinion J is provided with a flange or rim,j, upon the outerperiphery of which is located a beveled projection, j. On shaft E, nextto this clutch-pinion, is mounted and firmly keyed thereon a bracket,

k, in which works a yielding bar, it, upon the back of which bar a flatspring presses, so as always to force it outward, the face of the barbeing beveled on one side, so as to allow the beveled projection j, onthe rim of the clutch-pinward movement of the shaft.

ion J, to glide over it inits revolutions, which is the case when therack-bar Jis on its downward movement; but when the reverse or upwardmovement takes place the square shoulder of the projection j on theclutch-pinion acts upon a like shoulder on the yielding bar 70, andcauses a connection between the clutchpinion J and the shaft E. (SeeFig. 4.) A revolution of the com pressor consequently takes place. Onthe end of the compressorshaft E opposite that which carries the clutchmechanism is attached a beveled projection or stop,f, acted upon by aplate-spring, f, secured on one of the uprights of the frame, the objectof which construction is to prevent back- A lever or connecting-rod, K,for vibrating the receiver, has

one of its ends attached to the shaft 0, in this instance at the pointwhere it is pivoted on the pulley-shaft, its other end resting upon aprojection or being pivoted to the rack-bar J. During the downwardmovement of this rackbar, occasioned by the depression of the end of thelever I, to which it is connected, the receiver, holder, or cut-off isvibrated or depressed by the outer end of the lever or arm K, or thatendwhich is attached to the rack-bar, being drawn down; this vibrating ordepressing movement of the receiver being sufficient to drop 'ordischarge the grain collected therein into the open clasps below. Assoon as this depressing movement is finished the action of the cam uponthe forked lever I immediately causes a' reverse or upward movement ofthe rack-bar, which, in turn, causes a revolution of the compressor toforce the loose straw into the clasp before it closes to convey thegrain to the binder.

Having described the mechanism for receivin g the grain from theelevating apparatus and for forcing the same into clasps for conveyanceto the binder, 1 will now proceed to describe the clasps with theirattendant mechanisms for revolving, opening, and closing them.

On cross-pieces A A of the frame are secured looped brackets a. a, whichsupport a tubular sleeve, L, capable of turning in its bearings. Thissleeve invests a turningshaft, m, uponthe upper end of which is mounteda vibrating wheel, M, provided with cam-grooves m, through which theopening and closing movements of the clasps are regulated.

Between this sleeve L and the cam-wheel M is loosely mounted aclasp-head, it being provided with an opening through which the shaft mpasses. The upper portion of the sleeve L is flanged out so as topresent a firm seat for the clasp-head thereon.

This clasp-head consists of a bar, N, de

pressed at its center for the reception of the cam-wheel M, its endsbeing forked or recessed, and having a downward bend or incline, uponwhich inclines, at either end, two parallel rockshafts, 0 O, aremounted, as clearly shown in Fig. 2.

On these shafts, near their ends, are mounted clasps P P, so that eachend of each shaft is provided with a clasp, which clasps are keyed andrendered longitudinally adjustable thereon by set-screws, or in anyother equivalent well-known way, so that the clasps may be adjusted tosuit the length of grain being bound, whether it belong or short.

These clasps, which are mounted upon their shafts nearly opposite eachother, consist of a base or head which encircles the shaft, and twobranches or arms, to the ends of which teeth, preferably of ahalf-circle shape, are attached in such a manner that the inner bend ofone set of teeth will face the inner bend of those mounted on theopposite shaft, whereby when the shafts are rocked to close or bring theteeth together to inclose and compress a bundle of grain, the spaceoccupied by the grain will be oval or nearly round. By providing thebase or head with two branching arms or forks, I am enabled to have twosupporting and compressing surfaces or teeth on each side of the centerof the rockshaft on which they are mounted.

These shafts are rocked for opening and lever, b, which is connected,through the. medium of a coiled spring, 12 which encircles a curved rod,with another lever, B, one end of which encircles the nearestrock-shaft, its free end entering the cam-groove m on the cam-wheel M,and is so arranged in respect to the cam-grooves that it gives apositive motion, when. the cam is vibrated, to open the clasps, theclasp having the benefit of the spring if, when closing, so as to adaptit to a large or, small bundle of grain, as the case may be.

The levers or link-connections for operating the clasps are so arrangedin the cam-grooves that one set of clasps is open while the other isclosed.

Lying upon the bottom of each set of clasps is a discharging-lever, Q,which has its fulcrum on the end of the rock-shafts. After the grain isbound, and during the turning movement of the clasp-head to bring theopposite clasp, with its contents, to the binder, thedependingend q ofthis lever strikes upon a projection, or part of the frame of themachine, which throws one end of the lever quickly upward, anddischarges the bundle upon the ground in rear of the machine.

To turn the clasp-head N a half-revolution to bring the open clasp inposition under the receiver and compressor, and to carry the compressedbundle of grain to the binder, a

wheel, S, on the sleeve L, which revolves intermittently the sleeve, andconsequently the clasp-head N, mounted thereon, the extent of movementof the head being controlled by a springcatch, s, the end of whichenters notches formed in the rim or flange of the pinion-wheel at everyhalf-rerolution.

The disk S is also provided on its face opposite to that provided withthe gear-teeth with a cam-projection,s which lifts the springcatch clearof the notch into which it projects, just before the gear-teeth engagethe pinion, to revolve the clasp-head a half-revolution, to bring theclasp with the grain therein to the binder.

The cam-wheel M is vibrated, to open and close the clasps at the propertime, by means of a projection, 3 on the face of the disk, coming incontact during its revolution with a camprojection, 8 on the end of theshaft upon which the cam-wheel is'mounted, the cam being controlled inits movements, at either'extreme, by suitable stops, lugs, or pins a,located on the under surface of the lower-loopbracket a that supportstile sleeve. (See Fig. 6.)

To insure the arrival of the clasp-head N at the right position for theopen clasp to receive the grain from the receiver, there is placed onthe sleeve 1], just below the pinion, a movable collar, T, held in placeby a set-screw, which is acted upon by a cam-projection, T, on the faceof the disk S, the cam ceasing its action on the collar when theclasp-head arrives at the right position for one of the clasps toreceive the bundle of grain.

The mechanism is so arranged that when in operation the receiver isvibrated or depressed to drop its collected bundle of grain into theopen clasp below just before the compressor is revolved, which pressesall loose straw or grain into the clasp, the clasp then closingimmediately by the driving mechanism acting 011 the cam M, which latteris vibrated to close the clasp under the receiver, and to open the oneon the opposite end of the clasp-head, the driving mechanism then actingto revolve the clasp-head a halt revolution, to carry the open clasp toits position under the receiver, and to convey the inclosed bundle ofgrain to the binder, who rides upon the machine, and who passes aprepared band of straw or other material, taken from a box or table, 3around the bundle, and secures its ends, which operation is repeated asthe machine is drawn along, the bound bundles being automaticallydischarged, as hereinbefore stated.

It will be seen from the foregoing description of my invention that butone binder is necessary to bind the entire grain cut by aharvesting-machine, and that that one need not be an experienced hand,the only function to be performed being simply to pass a bandaround thebundle and to secure its ends, the bundle being held a sufficient timein its compressed state for that purpose.

It is obvious that some of my improvements may be used without theothers, and in machines differing somewhat in construction from the onedescribed, and I do not limit myself to the precise construction shown,as various modifications will readily suggest themselves to thoseskilled in the art. For instance, more than two clasps might be used, oran apparatus for stopping the revolution of the clasps might beemployed, or the mechanism might be so organized as to permit the binderto ride on the back of the machine instead of at the side.

What I claim as my invention, and desire to secure by Letters Patent,is- V 1. The combination, substantially as hereinbefore set forth, ofthe elevating-apron, the grating, the deflector-bars, the vibratingreceiver, and theintermittently-revolving clasp s.

2. The combination, substantially as hereinbefore set forth, of theintemnittently-revolving compressor and the intermittently-revolvingclasps, for the purposes specified.

' 3. The combination, substantially as hereinbefore set forth, of thereceptacle, the compressor, and the intermittently-revolving clasps, forthe purposes specified.

4. The combination, substantially as hereinbefore set forth, of areceiver, a binders stand, and intermittently revolving clasps whichmake one pause to receive a gavel and another to allow it to be bound.

5. The combination, substantially as hereinbefore set forth, ofanintermittently-revolvin g clasp and its automatic dischargingmechanism carried thereby.

6. The combination, substantially as hereinbefore set forth, of the twoparallel rockshafts, the forked clasping-jaws thereof at each end, theirinterposed segments, actuating lever and cam, for the purposesspecified.

7. The combination, substantially as hereinbefore set forth, of theintermittently-revolving clasps, the intermittently-vibrating cam-wheel,and the levers connecting the clasps and cam wheel, whereby the claspsare opened or closed at proper intervals durin g their revolution forthe reception and discharge of the grain.

8. The combination, substantially as hereinbefore set forth, of theclasp head, the notched pinion-wheel carried by the clasphead,supporting-sleeve, and a spring-stop,

whereby the clasp is positively locked at each half-revolution.

9. The combination, substantially as hereinbefore set forth, of thenotched wheel on the clasp-head supporting-sleeve, the spring-stop, andthe cam on the disk-wheel, whereby the clasphead is released at properintervals.

10. The combination, substantially as hereinbefore set forth, of thecompressor-shaft, its spring-bar, and the clutch-pinion actuated by therack, whereby the shaft is intermittently rotated at proper intervals.

11. The combination, substantially as hereinbefore set forth, of thevibrating receiver, the compressor, a clutch mechanismmounted on theshaft of said compressor, a rack-bar adapted to mesh with the clutchmechanism,

and a lever acted upon by a cam to raise and. lower the rack-bar,whereby the receiver is vibrated and the compressor revolvedintermittently in unison.

In testimony whereof i have hereunto suhscribed my name.

ALFRED HART, JR.

Witnesses:

M. S. PRENTIGE, S. NoRToN TALCOTT.

